Today, Emeline, founder of Fizimed, shares with us her (frustrating) breastfeeding experiences which led her to create the ideal portable breast pump for breastfeeding mothers, Emy Pump !
My opinion on portable breast pumps
My first experience with a connected breast pump
After my first birth, I breastfed my baby and I quickly had the need to have a more practical breast pump than the wired one which I rented from the pharmacy.
As a business leader, I had to return to work fairly quickly. And I was determined to put all the chances on my side so that my breastfeeding continued to be a success. 💪
So I decided to invest in a latest generation portable breast pump, connected to a mobile application, the Rollce Royce of breast pumps that everyone is talking about. 💎
Except that I quickly became disillusioned…
The disadvantages of connected breast pumps
Only one breast shield size in the basic kit
Already, the breast pump only comes with only one breast shield size and I don't have the same size on my two breasts... So I have to buy a second size to be able to use my breast pump correctly. 📏
It's very frustrating, especially when you know what to use a suitable breast shield size to express milk is a crucial and determining factor for the success of the draws.
You have to keep your phone nearby
Then, to express my milk, I have to connect the breast pump to a mobile application. I was hoping for a quick start… it was a failure! I spend several dozen minutes assembling, positioning, connecting the breast pump... 📲
During use, I can't get away from my phone, otherwise the connection is lost and the breast pump stops... Even worse, if I'm not careful, sometimes the breast pump stops midway. And as for now, he is still quite silent (that must be left to him!), I don't necessarily notice it.
So result after 20 minutes, my breast pump is empty, no expressed milk, again back to square one. I already found the basic tank a little small with a capacity of only 120 ml, but I still have to manage to fill it! 👎
Approximate functionalities
Besides, on paper, portable breast pumps have great features: the application is supposed to help me follow my prints, tell me the quantity of milk expressed at each session and notify me when the bottle is almost full.
Except you see me coming, the quantity of milk detected is always wrong, and sometimes even far removed from reality.
And by talking with other users, the verdict is clear: this measure is not actually correct for anyone and it is even one of the reasons why after a few weeks, the majority of women use their breast pump… but without the app! 🥛
Laborious cleaning
Moreover, in use, I quickly discovered that the rounded shape of the bottle which collects the milk is very difficult to clean. You should always have a bottle brush on you to be sure you clean it properly.
And above all, the tank almost never dries completely. There are drops of water which always remain in the container... not very hygienic and above all not very reassuring either.. 💦
Unreliable operation
The incident that definitely convinced me that this breast pump was not not the ideal solution occurred during a wedding in the Vosges. I had planned everything and brought my portable breast pump, thinking I could use it peacefully the day after the ceremony.
Except that where I am, there is no no network, and therefore impossible to start and operate my portable breast pump… 🛜
Waterlogging, pain, swollen breasts… all this linked led to a big drop in my milk supply.
A significant cost
So I had just spent more than 300€ for a product that didn't suit me (and I'm certainly not the only one). And what's more, it's a device that is not within the reach of all mothers. 💰
My use of this connected nomadic breast pump therefore raised a lot of questions for me: is it really worth investing in a connected breast pump? Already they are more expensive to purchase, what if what seems to be their added value (= the application) is in reality no longer used after a few prints?
Isn't it better to buy a cheaper breast pump and use a free application on the side to follow your draws? So many thoughts that I have kept warm in my head... because that's it, the seed is planted! That's all it took for me to tackle the subject head on and see what Fizimed could do to revolutionize the world of portable breast pumps! ✊
My second experience with a stand-alone breast pump
After my failure with connected breast pumps, I decided to buy one portable breast pump basic, which works without connection and much less expensive, telling me that this was perhaps it after all, THE ideal breast pump for active mothers who want express milk quickly and easily. 📵
The disadvantages of first generation portable breast pumps
Limited discretion
I then opt for a model with a much milk collector easier to clean and with a greater capacity. It is much simpler and intuitive to use, a few buttons to turn it on and adjust the modes and off you go.
Negative point, it is a lot less discreet with an imposing base that juts out on top. And I have more difficulty hiding it under my clothes but I am ready to ignore this “aesthetic” criterion. 👚
Uncertain functioning
But again, when using it, I quickly encounter problems. Once in two, unable to start it. Even though I took apart and reassembled all the parts, assembly was tedious and getting started was uncertain. ❌
With the motor base to clip above the milk collector, in addition to not being very discreet under clothing, it is a breast pump quite noisy. And it happened to me that the base came off during use!
Clearly, on this type of model, the mobility is much more limited and what's more, I had recurring problems with leaks...
Restricted functionalities
When using it, I quickly realize that we are still a long way from the ideal breast pump. My model did not have no screen. It is therefore impossible to follow the drawing time or the suction intensity.
The features are very basic and the modes do not change automatically…
Too little power
Another negative point of this portable breast pump model: the suction power is less compared to hospital models.
To maintain my lactation effectively, I had to add pumping with my corded breast pump to my schedule to be sure of empty my breasts well.
Reduced lifespan
In addition to being less powerful, I found that the performance of the breast pump has decreased with time. After a month of daily use, I started to feel a drop in suction, I really no longer felt confident and I was afraid that I would no longer be able to continue breastfeeding peacefully.
Clearly, there was still a way to go to offer women a nomadic, efficient, practical solution and which works in all circumstances!
What is the best portable breast pump?
According to my experience, here are the different criteria on which I based myself to develop the best portable breast pumps, Emy Pump !
It's a cordless breast pump and without connection, to allow me to continue my professional and personal activities without being cut off from my freedom of movement.
He is also hands free, it fits by itself in my bra, which leaves my hands free to do what I want.
Efficiency and great autonomy 🔋
The Emy Pump portable breast pump is extremely effective. It allows me to stimulate and maintain my lactation with performance comparable to that of a corded hospital breast pump.
With a great autonomy, I can use it for several hours a day without having to recharge it!
Comfort and portability 👜
Small, light and compact, the Emy Pump breast pump is easy to slip into a bag and carry anywhere, allowing me to express my milk wherever I want and when I want. !It is also discreet, invisible under clothes, which allows me to stay dressed and not to isolate myself when I express my milk.
Furthermore, his use is silent, I use it daily in our open space without disturbing my colleagues. But also during my many business trips, as evidenced by this photo, where I was able to express my milk... on the train!
Reliable and easy to use 👌
The Emy Pump breast pump is autonomous and reliable in all environments, and above all, it works without mobile app And without emitting waves. Because we know that microwave waves can have a negative impact on nutritional quality of breast milk, but what about the waves emitted by connected breast pumps?!
Its handling is quick and its controls are intuitive, and it gives me access to essential information directly on the breast pump (autonomy, stopwatch, mode, intensity).
Large tank and easy maintenance 🥛
With a large tank integrated capable of storing at least 160 ml of breast milk, it has very few parts to assemble. And of course, there are no small parts or joints that can be easily lost and are not easy to maintain.
Emy Pump is a breast pump practical and easy to use. And what's more, his maintenance is really simple : it can be cleaned without a brush and dries completely.
Comfort and adaptability 🎯
Also, the portable breast pump Emy Pump is comfortable, with soft silicone breast shields. And it comes with 6 sizes different breast shields to fit each breast. It’s also the portable breast pump offering the most sizes! This guarantees optimal comfort and a perfect fit for all users.
And finally, I would say that the Emy Pump portable breast pump is, in my experience, the perfect combination between freedom, efficiency, comfort and practicality!
I really thought it out and imagined it to be ideal for breastfeeding mothers who seek to maintain their lactation in an efficient, accessible and above all, without constraints way! I hope you like it as much as I do. 🤗
